Wild Rice: A Nutritious and Tasty Alternative

It can sometimes be difficult finding ingredients that tick all the right boxes when it comes to taste, nutrition and affordability. And it is even more of a challenge if you are also having to take food intolerances or special dietary requirements into account. Yet wild rice could just be the answer to your prayers. If you’ve never cooked with it before, now could be the time to give it a try.

Contrary to what you might think, wild rice is not just a special variety of the white or brown rice with which you are familiar. In fact, it is not really a rice at all, but a type of aquatic grass. It contains no grain and no gluten, meaning it is even suitable for those with the strictest dietary constraints; essentially, wild rice is packed full of nutrients that we all need for a healthy body and immune system.

Rice That Is Not Rice

Wild rice is a term that is used to describe four distinct species of grass that are mostly native to North America. Its popularity has increased over recent years as people have got wise to its health benefits and rich, nutty flavor. The seeds are larger and more densely-packed with nutrients than conventional rice, meaning it packs a real punch from a nutritional perspective.

Ounce for ounce, it contains double the protein content of brown rice and more than ten times the selenium content – a vital mineral for the production of antioxidants that helps keep the body healthy and the immune system working properly.

Cooking With Wild Rice

Wild rice can be added to your regular diet as a substitute for white or brown rice as a healthy accompaniment to any meat, fish or vegetable dish. It is cooked in much the same way, but bear in mind that it will typically need at least 45 minutes boiling or steaming time, so schedule the rest of your dish accordingly.

It is also a great basis for a nutritious salad that is a little out of the ordinary, but is quick and easy to prepare.

The Next Great Superfood?

Healthy, nutritious and easy to prepare, yet tastes great and is suitable for those on a vegan, grain-free or gluten-free diet. It is easy to see why wild rice is gaining in popularity and being hailed as the latest superfood.